I've been going back and forth with my driveway contractor on two cracks and other issues. I'd like to get some input on wether I'm being unreasonable or not. We've been working thru the BBB who appears to be giving up on the complaint since my contractor feels his work is fine. I'll show you the pictures of the cracks and the apron that I told him was not tapered correctly but he just poured it saying it was fine. I could go with the BBB to arbitrate since we can't agree but that cost extra $$$'s. Thanks for your input.
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New Driveway with Cracks
- Thread starter quist11
- Start date
Gary S
Well-known member
I would have done the concrete slightly different in your first photo. I would have added a stress groove for it to crack there. That kind of pour around a corner can be expected to crack, and a groove would control it.
On the second picture, I can't see anything that caused the crack, so you just might have to live with that.
I see nothing wrong with the tapering of the concrete at the apron.
But, I'm no contractor or concrete expert. I do my own concrete as an amateur mudder.
On the second picture, I can't see anything that caused the crack, so you just might have to live with that.
I see nothing wrong with the tapering of the concrete at the apron.
But, I'm no contractor or concrete expert. I do my own concrete as an amateur mudder.
Cryptic1911
Well-known member
always expect 90deg corners to crack like the first pic, 2nd pic, not sure what happened there, and same as Gary, i don't see anything odd with the apron?
Thanks for the input. The apron should be wider at the curb then at the sidewalk to allow for a turning radius, also there is part of the curb left on the apron.
So as far as the cracks, should I just live with them and use a filler eventually (there are a lot of products for that). Just disappointed to have cracks in less then a year for a new drive. Also bad location for cracks at entrance to house.
So as far as the cracks, should I just live with them and use a filler eventually (there are a lot of products for that). Just disappointed to have cracks in less then a year for a new drive. Also bad location for cracks at entrance to house.
tdkkart
Well-known member
Well, after seeing the retarded way the apron is done it doesn't surprise me that the cracks showed up where they did.
First, the apron should indeed have been done different IMO. The curbs should have been cut back from the driveway and sloped/radiused in. The only possible problem is that there may be issues with the city on cutting the curbs.
The cracks both appear to be at the stoop by the side door??
This gets tricky because that stoop may move with the house or it may not, either way it's gonna move if you have freezing weather, and it may or may not cause cracking of the drive. The drive should have been more carefully isolated from the stoop somehow.
Compaction under the new drive area may have been an issue also.
That said, if there's one thing you can be sure of with concrete, it's that it WILL crack.
Where it cracks and how much is the only variable.
The apron?? There's 2 ways to get something done your way. #1 is to do it yourself, #2 is to make damn sure the person that is doing it knows what you want. If you have to, hold their hand while they do the job.
First, the apron should indeed have been done different IMO. The curbs should have been cut back from the driveway and sloped/radiused in. The only possible problem is that there may be issues with the city on cutting the curbs.
The cracks both appear to be at the stoop by the side door??
This gets tricky because that stoop may move with the house or it may not, either way it's gonna move if you have freezing weather, and it may or may not cause cracking of the drive. The drive should have been more carefully isolated from the stoop somehow.
Compaction under the new drive area may have been an issue also.
That said, if there's one thing you can be sure of with concrete, it's that it WILL crack.
Where it cracks and how much is the only variable.
The apron?? There's 2 ways to get something done your way. #1 is to do it yourself, #2 is to make damn sure the person that is doing it knows what you want. If you have to, hold their hand while they do the job.
ishiboo
Well-known member
Well, after seeing the retarded way the apron is done it doesn't surprise me that the cracks showed up where they did.
First, the apron should indeed have been done different IMO. The curbs should have been cut back from the driveway and sloped/radiused in. The only possible problem is that there may be issues with the city on cutting the curbs.
The cracks both appear to be at the stoop by the side door??
This gets tricky because that stoop may move with the house or it may not, either way it's gonna move if you have freezing weather, and it may or may not cause cracking of the drive. The drive should have been more carefully isolated from the stoop somehow.
Compaction under the new drive area may have been an issue also.
That said, if there's one thing you can be sure of with concrete, it's that it WILL crack.
Where it cracks and how much is the only variable.
The apron?? There's 2 ways to get something done your way. #1 is to do it yourself, #2 is to make damn sure the person that is doing it knows what you want. If you have to, hold their hand while they do the job.
1. If your quote did not include paying for them to cut and widen the apron, and the required approval from the city (if necessary), I'm not sure how you can contest it. It may not be what you wanted, but its probably what you were quoted.
2. Concrete cracks, that's true. Any driveway is going to crack. I don't think its the stoop isolation thats the issue, as was mentioned before there needed to be a relief cut at the corner of the step in whichever direction was the most visually pleasing. This is not really "his fault" or something wrong with the pour.
I would ignore the crack and have him come out and cut the relief cut for you and be happy with that. Seal the crack yourself with some filler or grout.
BlindViper
Well-known member
It looks like to me that the apron matches the profile of the existing gutter curb.
My neighbor and I both widened our drives from 9 ft to 15 ft. In his case both sides of the apron was tapered about 3 ft and the curbs replaced, the city allows it. I think my contractor didn't want the additional expense of the curb when I mentioned it to him; he actually had a higher bid then my neighbors contractor but he had very good reviews from the BBB and other sites.
The relief cuts may be a good idea. I wanted him to replace the cracked sections and one side of the apron. I really didn't think that was going to happen but tried working with the BBB which has gone no where. Interesting experience but nothing is better then doing the job right the first time.
I'll probably just live with it and add this to another bad experience in life; thankfully, my good ones far exceed the bad ones.
If any one else has any ideas I'll check back from time to time, but otherwise, I think its time to move on and leave my contented contractor alone ...Thanks
The relief cuts may be a good idea. I wanted him to replace the cracked sections and one side of the apron. I really didn't think that was going to happen but tried working with the BBB which has gone no where. Interesting experience but nothing is better then doing the job right the first time.
I'll probably just live with it and add this to another bad experience in life; thankfully, my good ones far exceed the bad ones.
If any one else has any ideas I'll check back from time to time, but otherwise, I think its time to move on and leave my contented contractor alone ...Thanks
drmoonshine
Well-known member
I wish you luck with the BBB, thats what its there for. Perhaps call a few other company asking how we they pour in that area to see if they would do it differently.
BlindViper
Well-known member
what does your contract show he is to replace?
His contract is only an estimate, only mentions standard practices. Doesn't get into details. It does say new apron 15' x 15' and when he painted the outline it was tapered.
You can do all the due diligence checking out a contractor and still get a bad egg.
The BBB wants additional money but I think its time to cut my losses, its a shame he will keep his A+ rating with no complaints. I'm still pursuing the rating with the BBB.
You can do all the due diligence checking out a contractor and still get a bad egg.
The BBB wants additional money but I think its time to cut my losses, its a shame he will keep his A+ rating with no complaints. I'm still pursuing the rating with the BBB.
BlindViper
Well-known member
So you have no signed contract?
willymakeit
Well-known member
With no signed conract or proposal it is a he sid ,she said. A proposal tells what you are getting for money spent with specfics. The 90 degree corner cracks are called reentrant corners which will crack. There should be expansion joint at your building and existing sidewalks. As far as standard practices is this AIC or just normal verbiage?
I understand you are not happy with the concrete but I look at it this way.
It could be worse! Concrete cracks and cracks anywhere and everywhere. The curb really isn't that big of a deal because most people cut the corner to the driveway and drive on the grass causing damage. This at minimum will keep people from cutting the corner with the back tire of their vehicle.
It could be worse! Concrete cracks and cracks anywhere and everywhere. The curb really isn't that big of a deal because most people cut the corner to the driveway and drive on the grass causing damage. This at minimum will keep people from cutting the corner with the back tire of their vehicle.